Obama's vision of America is not exceptional, foes say

American exceptionalism is a phrase that, until recently, was rarely heard outside the confines of research groups, opinion journals and university history departments.

But with Republicans and tea party activists accusing President Barack Obama and the Democrats of turning the country toward socialism, the idea that the United States is inherently superior to the world's other nations seems to be on the lips of just about every Republican who is giving any thought to running for president in 2012.

For former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the concept is a frequent theme in her speeches, Facebook postings, tweets and appearances on Fox News Channel. Her just-published book, America by Heart, has a chapter titled "America the Exceptional."

An argument over American exceptionalism "is a respectable way of raising the question of whether Obama is one of us," said William Galston, a former policy adviser to President Bill Clinton who is now a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

Much of this issue hearkens back to a single comment that Obama made a year and a half ago in Strasbourg, France, during his first trip overseas as president.

Obama was asked by Financial Times correspondent Ed Luce whether he subscribes, as his predecessors did, "to the school of American exceptionalism that sees America as uniquely qualified to lead the world."

The president's answer began: "I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism."

That may have been a nod to the fact that many abroad hear talk of American exceptionalism as worrisome jingoism. But it provided ammunition for Palin and other Republican critics.

"Maybe President Obama grew up around coaches who insisted that all the players receive participation 'trophies' at the end of the season and where no score was kept in youth soccer games for fear of offending someone," she wrote in her book.

" . . . when President Obama insists that all countries are exceptional, he's saying that none is, least of all the country he leads."

But the president's full statement was indeed an affirmation of American exceptionalism.

In addition to the world's largest economy and its mightiest military, Obama said, "We have a core set of values that are enshrined in our Constitution, in our body of law, in our democratic practices, in our belief in free speech and equality, that, though imperfect, are exceptional."

He added: "I see no contradiction between believing that America has a continued extraordinary role in leading the world toward peace and prosperity and recognizing that leadership is incumbent, depends on, our ability to create partnerships because we can't solve these problems alone."

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Obama fails to understand that "American exceptionalism refers directly to the grant of rights asserted in the Declaration of Independence," and that it is a term "which relates directly to our unique assertion of an unprecedented set of rights granted by God."

But White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer said Obama has declared exactly that on many occasions.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.